Grand Vietnam: From North to South

Hanoi / Arrival (D)

Arrival at Hanoi Airport.

Meet our guide, followed by a direct transfer to the city centre for your first visits of the capital of reunified Vietnam.

Depending on your arrival time, enjoy visits to various sites or walks through Hanoi’s Old Quarter to observe the residents’ daily life up close and photograph the lively atmosphere of the famous 36 Guild Streets, widely described in travel guides.

Transfer to the hotel and check in. Free time to rest or explore independently around your hotel.

Welcome dinner and overnight in Hanoi.

Hanoi / City Tour (B,L)

After breakfast, ready for a full day of sightseeing and walks around Hanoi.

We begin our guided tour of the capital at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum complex, overlooking Ba Dinh Square, and his stilt house, offering insight into the modest life of this great man.

The One Pillar Pagoda is famous for its unique design inspired by an 11th-century legend.

Then visit the Temple of Literature, dedicated to Confucius and his disciples. This complex was Vietnam’s first university.

In the afternoon, visit the Museum of Ethnology, Vietnam’s largest and most comprehensive museum devoted to its 54 ethnic groups. A cyclo ride through the Old Quarter and its small commercial streets introduces us to the capital’s main attractions.

At the end of the day, visit the Jade Temple in the middle of Hoan Kiem Lake. The giant turtle in the temple recalls the 15th-century legend of the lake.

Later, enjoy a pleasant walk to Long Bien Bridge (known as Paul Doumer Bridge during the French period) and take a look at the “Train Street” area.

In the evening, attend a water puppet show, a traditional Vietnamese folk art. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hanoi.

Ha Noi - Ninh Binh (B,L,D)

After breakfast, travel south of Hanoi along National Highway No. 1 (the Mandarin Road), through the beautiful scenery of the Red River Delta, where rice paddies and vegetable fields form a picturesque landscape stretching for 100 km.

After a two-hour drive, reach Vietnam’s ancient capital, Hoa Lu, and visit two temples dedicated to the kings of the Dinh and Le dynasties.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, enjoy a bicycle ride through the authentic villages of Thung Nang and Bich Dong, with visits to Bich Dong Pagoda and Thai Vi Temple—an ideal opportunity for encounters and photographs amid natural beauty and limestone peaks.

Continue with a lovely rowing-sampan trip through the preserved landscapes of Trang An and Tam Coc. We choose Thung Nham for a journey along the water and through limestone caves.

At the end of the trip, visit the magnificent Thien Ha Cave (Paradise Cave) by rowing sampan under electric torchlight.

Overnight in Ninh Binh.

Ninh Binh - Hanoi - Overnight Train to Lao Cai (B,L)

Breakfast at the hotel. Then take a local walks and visits: travel to Bai Dinh Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Southeast Asia, and admire its magnificent Buddha statues.

Climb Hang Mua Mountain for panoramic views of the region, then enjoy a sampan ride through the little-known Van Long site, “The Dragon in the Clouds”, before returning to Hanoi.

Dinner at leisure in Hanoi, followed by transfer to the station for the overnight train to Lao Cai.

Overnight aboard the train in air-conditioned cabins.

Lao Cai Arrival - Bac Ha / Ethnic Market - Sapa (B,L)

Early arrival at Lao Cai railway station. Welcome and breakfast at a local restaurant opposite the station.

Transfer to an ethnic market (held once a week). Depending on the day, visit:

• Bien Phiet on Monday morning
• Coc Ly on Tuesday
• Lung Khau Nhin on Wednesday
• Cao Son on Thursday
• Cho Dau on Friday
• Can Cau on Saturday
• Bac Ha on Sunday.

Visit the highly colourful and lively market, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, head to Sapa past beautiful terraced rice fields hidden behind the clouds, stopping along the way to visit tea hills—an important crop in this region—and the Chinese border gate.

Arrival in Sapa and visit to the local central market for your first impressions of this highland town, a charming resort chosen by the French during the colonial period.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel in Sapa.

Sapa / Mount Fansipan / Ethnic Villages (B,L)

After breakfast, meet the guide and driver for transfer to the Hoang Lien Son range. Take the cable car for a full day of walking and discovering Mount Fansipan, at 3.143 m—the Roof of Indochina, with a round-trip cable-car journey.

Enjoy the fantastic panoramic view from the summit.

Lunch at a restaurant at the foot of the mountain, followed by a beautiful two-hour walk through Cat Cat village (meaning “waterfall”), with opportunities for encounters and lovely photographs along the stream.

Return to Sapa town for rest and independent exploration.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the same hotel.

Sapa - Lao Cai - Overnight Train to Hanoi (B,L)

After breakfast, go for a beautiful 3.5-hour walk through the terraced villages of the Y Linh Ho, Lao Chai and Ta Van ethnic minorities.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue by vehicle towards Cat Cat ethnic village before returning to Sapa town to collect your luggage from the hotel.

Travel to Lao Cai railway station, stopping at the Sino-Vietnamese border, where the Red River on the Vietnamese side meets the Nam Thi River on the Chinese side.

Quick shower and dinner at leisure before boarding the overnight train to Hanoi.

Overnight aboard the sleeper train | Four-berth cabin, tourist-class comfort.

Hanoi - Ha Long Bay (B,L,D)

Arrival at Hanoi railway station around 05:30. Welcome by the driver and guide, then travel to Ha Long Bay, stopping for breakfast en route.

Pass through the traditional Vietnamese countryside, with villages, markets and rice fields animated by farmers’ daily lives.

Arrive in Halong around noon and embark on a 24-hour cruise through Ha Long Bay.

Lunch on board. Discover an extraordinary landscape —“one of the wonders of the world”—with nearly three thousand limestone islets and pinnacles in fantastic shapes, such as turtles and sampan sails, scattered across 1,500 km² of emerald water.

Stop at Sung Sot (Surprise) Cave, a mysterious world filled with thousands of stalagmites and stalactites. Climb to the summit of Titov Islet or swim at the beach, weather permitting.

Admire the sunset from the junk’s upper deck.

Dinner and overnight on board in Ha Long Bay.

Note: During these two days, the cruise will operate in Halong Bay, Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay, depending on junk availability at the time of your decision and selection.

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Island (B,L)

After breakfast, continue cruising through more beautiful locations in Lan Ha Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay. Brunch is served on board before disembarkation.

Disembark, then transfer to the public ferry for Cat Ba Island, the largest island in Halong Bay.

Disembark at Gia Luan, followed by a direct transfer to Cat Ba National Park for discovery and an easy climb in the park, the richest island park in the entire Halong Bay area.

Transfer to Cat Ba town and check in at the hotel. Opportunity to swim from Cat Ba’s fine sandy beaches.

Dinner at leisure and overnight at the hotel on Cat Ba Island.

Cat Ba - Hai Phong - Hanoi - Flight to Hue (B,L)

After breakfast, free time to explore Cat Ba Market independently, or relax and enjoy the beach.

Check out, then have lunch before taking the high-speed boat to Hai Phong City (or the ferry connecting to the sea-crossing motorway between Cat Hai Island and Hai Phong).

Arrival in Hai Phong and visits to the flower market and Du Hang Pagoda, before returning to Hanoi and transferring to Hanoi Airport for the flight to Hue.

Arrival in Hue, welcome by the driver and transfer to the hotel.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hue.

Hue / City Tour (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, ready for a full day of walks and visits in Hue.

Visit Hue’s craft villages, where incense sticks, conical hats and wooden sculptures are made.

Enjoy a one-hour boat trip on the Perfume River to the riverside Thien Mu (Celestial Lady) Pagoda.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, visit the Hue Citadel with its three enclosures: the Citadel, Imperial City and Forbidden City.

Dinner and overnight in Hue.

Hue - Hai Van Pass - Hoi An (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, depart to visit Minh Mang’s Tomb. This majestic tomb reflects the Eastern philosophy of harmony between humanity and nature.

Visit Emperor Khai Dinh’s Tomb, combining architectural styles from around the world and remarkable for its beautiful details.

Visit Tu Hieu Pagoda in its peaceful setting, then return to town for a stroll through Dong Ba covered market, known for its French architecture. Return to the hotel to rest before going to the restaurant.

Lunch at a local restaurant. Travel towards Danang via the famous Hai Van Pass, offering magnificent views over kilometres of beaches along the Lang Co Peninsula.

In Danang, stop to photograph the dragon-shaped bridge, then continue to My Khe Beach.

Proceed to Hoi An, formerly called Hai Fo or Fai Fo, which was one of Asia’s busiest trading ports from the 17th to 18th centuries, bringing together Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese and Indonesian traders, followed by the French and Dutch.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An - My Son - Hoi An (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for My Son, 70 kilometres from Hoi An and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the same time as Hoi An.

Visit the complex of temples and sanctuaries, which served not only as the religious capital but also as the final resting place of the emperors of the Cham Kingdom from the 5th to the 13th centuries.

Their architecture and sculptures tell the story of the ruined kingdom’s most glorious period, while its brick-making technique remains a mystery to scientists.

Return to Hoi An for lunch at a local restaurant.

Visit old houses, including a traditional Vietnamese house, a Chinese congregation assembly hall and the Japanese Covered Bridge in the ancient quarter.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Hoi An.

Hoi An - Da Nang - Flight to Nha Trang (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, meet the driver for transfer to Da Nang Airport and the flight to Nha Trang.

Arrival in Nha Trang. Welcome by our guide at the airport, followed by transfer to the hotel to leave your luggage. This city was the final capital of the Cham Kingdom.

Later, visit Po Nagar Cham Towers and Long Son Pagoda.

Ranked among the world’s 29 most beautiful bays, Nha Trang enjoys year-round sunshine and an average temperature of 23°C, making it worthy of praise.

In the afternoon, take a boat trip to Hon Tam Island in Nha Trang Bay, where you can swim in emerald water or scuba-dive to discover the beautiful natural surroundings.

Return to Nha Trang, followed by free time.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Nha Trang.

Nha Trang (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, cruise to Tri Nguyen Aquarium on Bong Nguyen Island (Hon Mieu) to admire its comprehensive collection of fish, crustaceans, molluscs and sea turtles.

Continue to the suburban fishing village, where nothing is better than enjoying fresh seafood on site. Our delicious lunch will be prepared by the warm and sincere villagers.

Return to Nha Trang in the afternoon. Free time to swim or relax on the beach.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Nha Trang.

Nha Trang - Da Lat (B,L)

After breakfast, travel towards Da Lat through beautiful scenery. Stop at the top of the pass, where the radiant beauty of nature will undoubtedly captivate you.

Descending from the pass, arrive in the small city of Da Lat.

After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Dalat Botanical Garden, the Valley of Love and Xuan Huong Lake.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Da Lat.

Da Lat / City Tour - Saigon (B,L)

After breakfast, leave Da Lat, and continue to Ho Chi Minh City. This may be considered the most beautiful road of the journey: roses, daisies and seasonal flowers decorate more than 300 km of the route.

Coffee, tea and rubber plantations create a landscape across the Central Highlands that is both romantic and majestic.

Stop in Bao Loc for an opportunity to taste regional specialities.

Arrival in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam’s economic centre. Located in the heart of Cochinchina in the Mekong Delta, it is also the country’s largest city, with a population of more than eight million.

City tour: photo stop in front of the Independence Palace, Notre-Dame Cathedral (under renovation until 2020; no interior visit), the Central Post Office built by Gustave Eiffel, the Opera House and City Hall, all featuring beautiful French architecture.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Saigon.

Saigon – Mekong Delta / My Tho and Ben Tre (B,L,D)

After breakfast, meet our English-speaking guide and driver for departure to the Mekong Delta (My Tho–Ben Tre area).

Upon arrival in My Tho, the gateway to the delta, enjoy a boat trip among islets planted with tropical orchards and cross Xep Canal. At the other end, horse-drawn carts await for a ride through the villages. Stop in an orchard to taste fruit and honey tea, then board rowing sampans to navigate a smaller canal.

At midday, stop on Turtle Island for lunch at leisure amid the mangrove forest.

Transfer to a homestay in Ben Tre. Settle into your room and rest.

Take part in a cooking class before dinner, preparing two dishes with the host family: bánh xèo and bánh giò.

Friendly dinner and overnight at the homestay.

Ben Tre – Sa Dec - Can Tho (B/L)

Breakfast at the homestay.

Heading to Sa Dec in Dong Thap Province. Visit the old house of Huynh Thuy Le, once home to the family of Mr Huynh Thuy Le, the first lover of French writer Marguerite Duras. Their relationship later inspired the memoir on which Duras based her famous 1984 novel The Lover, translated into 40 languages and adapted into a film by French director Jean-Jacques Annaud in 1992. The house is renowned for its harmonious blend of Eastern and Western architecture.

Then visit the typical local market and Tan Qui Dong flower village. Covering around 60 hectares, it is one of southern Vietnam’s largest flower gardens. Many flowers and ornamental plants, especially roses, are cultivated for major cities such as Saigon and Can Tho or for export. Visitors can admire magnificent blooms and unique plants created by skilled artisans.

Lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, travel to Can Tho, the Mekong Delta’s largest city, stopping for visits and photographs along the way.

Check in to your room. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Can Tho.

Can Tho / Cai Rang Floating Market - Saigon (B,L)

Early morning departure by private sampan to visit the authentic Cai Rang floating market, the region’s most typical market. Then visit an ecological garden with exotic fruit trees and taste fruit on site.

Visit a local roadside market, then return to Saigon.

Upon arrival in Saigon, visit Cho Lon Chinatown, including Binh Tay wholesale market and Thien Hau Pagoda.

Check in at the hotel. Dinner at leisure and overnight in Saigon.

Saigon - Tay Ninh Cao Dai Temple - Cu Chi Tunnels - Saigon (B,L)

After breakfast, travel to Tay Ninh, home to the largest Cao Dai temple. Caodaism is a remarkable religion unique to Vietnam, with more than two million followers, mainly in the South.

Attend the noon ceremony and see representations on the altar of major figures from around the world: Shakyamuni, Confucius, Jesus Christ, Lao Tzu, Joan of Arc, Victor Hugo, Lenin and others. 

After lunch, continue to the Cu Chi Tunnels. Known as the “Iron Triangle” and later as a “free-fire zone,” these tunnels linked Viet Cong - controlled areas when isolated within American or South Vietnamese zones. They also sheltered local people during air raids.

Viet Cong soldiers lived here under extremely difficult conditions. The tunnels remain living testimony to Vietnamese patriotism.

Return to Ho Chi Minh City.

Dinner at leisure and overnight in Ho Chi Minh City.

Saigon / Free Time - Departure (B)

After breakfast, free time for last-minute shopping or rest.

Check out and meet the driver for transfer to the airport for your departure flight.